Fenestrated Endovascular Prosthesis Branch Artery Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional endovascular prostheses are limited in maintaining blood flow to branched arteries as they are sealed across the openings of these arteries, preventing access and bypassing diseased sections of the aorta with significant risk and limited applicability in vascular surgery.

Innovation Solution

A fenestrated endovascular prosthesis with tubular body and fenestration tubes that allow guidewires to extend between the tubular body and the exterior, enabling deployment of secondary endovascular prostheses to maintain blood flow to branch arteries, using a deployment device and guidewire management system for precise placement and sealing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional endovascular prostheses are used to bypass diseased sections of the aorta, then the diseased section is successfully bypassed, but blood flow to branched arteries is blocked and surgical risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebypass effectivenessVSAvoidblockage of blood flow to branch arteries

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The prosthesis is divided into multiple segments including a tubular body and multiple fenestration tubes, each serving specific functions. The tubular body bypasses the diseased section while the fenestration tubes provide separate pathways to branched arteries, resolving the contradiction by segmenting the single prosthesis structure into functional units that simultaneously achieve bypass and maintain branch artery flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fenestration tubes are nested within or integrated with the tubular body structure. The guidewires are nested within the fenestration tubes, and secondary endovascular prostheses can be nested within the fenestration tubes. This nested configuration allows the main prosthesis to perform bypass function while containing subordinate structures that maintain branch artery patency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If conventional sealed prostheses are deployed, then simple deployment is achieved, but access to branch arteries is prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment simplicityVSAvoidaccess to branch arteries

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Guidewires are pre-positioned within the fenestration tubes during prosthesis deployment. This preliminary action enables subsequent access to branch arteries through the guidewires without requiring complex post-deployment maneuvers. The fenestration tubes are pre-configured to align with branch arteries, and guidewires are pre-placed to facilitate later intervention if needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The fenestration tubes serve as intermediary structures between the main tubular body and the branch arteries. They provide a controlled pathway that maintains sealing integrity while enabling access to branch arteries. The guidewires act as intermediaries that can be threaded through the fenestration tubes to reach branch arteries, bridging the gap between the sealed prosthesis and the need for arterial access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If fenestration tubes are added to maintain branch artery flow, then blood flow to branches is maintained, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblood flow maintenance to branch arteriesVSAvoidprosthesis structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fenestration tubes are merged with the tubular body to form an integrated prosthesis structure. The materials and construction methods are combined to create a unified device where the fenestration tubes and tubular body work together as a single system. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall device architecture while maintaining the capability to preserve branch artery flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fenestration tubes serve multiple functions: they maintain structural integrity of the prosthesis, provide pathways for blood flow to branch arteries, accommodate guidewires for potential future interventions, and can be sealed or opened as needed. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby managing device complexity while achieving blood flow maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20240277501A1Fenestrated vascular aortic repair stent, systems, and methods

Publication Date: 2024.08.22 MERIT MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

Endovascular prostheses used to treat diseased blood vessels, such as arteries, are disclosed. In some embodiments, an endovascular prosthesis is configured to be implanted within a diseased blood vessel adjacent a diseased section. The endovascular prosthesis may include a fenestration tube through which a guidewire extends in a sealed configuration. The fenestration tube can be selectively openable and configured to sealingly receive an expandable endovascular prosthesis that extends into a side branch vessel of the diseased blood vessel.